260 Kings Castle Walk "Huuta" (1/2)

”It's been a year since then.

The sound of feet in the alley.

The sound of footsteps in the alleyway is a concerto of pebbles grinding against each other as they step on the gravel.

Off the main street, into a dirty shopping district with narrow streets lined with stores. The clothes of the people we pass change from the fine clothes of the main street to those of the middle class.

I remembered my childhood when I thought that even the clothes they wore were too expensive for me to afford.

I thought back to my childhood, when I thought that even the clothes they wore were beyond my reach.

I was a little surprised at how much I missed those days.

It's only been a year since I arrived in King's Landing. My wandering journey lasted two years.

If you do a simple calculation, it should be a bitter memory that is still too early to be nostalgic, but here I was, smiling every day as I thought back.

It's not so surprising.

I am aware that I am blessed.

It's just that there is a big difference between knowing about it and recognizing it again.

......

Going down an alley.

Passing by a bar, I stop in my tracks.

Looking back at the path of the road, I saw a long, narrow alleyway lying like a dead snake.

Oh, it's so dim, I thought, squinting.

It was the perfect place to escape from the light of the central streets through the city gates of King's Landing.

I looked up at the sky. The day was narrow but blue and pleasant.

I wonder what it was like a year ago.

--Oh, I don't remember. I seem to have forgotten that the sky even has color.

I looked at the door of the dirty little bar that was open in the daytime, and shook my head in thought.

There was no particular reason to go in.

He turned away once more and was about to walk out when the door swung open.

The door opened with a bang.

The red-faced owner came running out, looked back at the store, and shouted.

If you make any more noise, I'm going to have to ask you to leave!

What's this?　Futa furrowed his brow, but the atmosphere was different.

But the atmosphere was different. or ”You'll have to tolerate me a little more. and ”You'd better take it easy on me.” There was a lot of crude criticism, as if the shopkeepers were taking advantage of them.

In fact, the shopkeeper, who looked familiar to me, was laughing as if he had no choice but to go back inside the store.

The economy seems to be booming. Just as I squinted my eyes at the good news, the shopkeeper must have found it unusual to see someone standing in the alley. The shopkeeper looked at him as if surprised, and their eyes met.

For a moment, Futa wondered what he should do.

The owner, a quiet and unfriendly man who had once made the ”second best” food in the world.

But when he saw Futa, he rolled his eyes in surprise.

Then he smiled like a child at a ristorante who has just been served a surprise birthday cake and shouted.

”Oh, no!　This can't be right!　Isn't that Futa Pomodoro?

”What? Oh, yeah. Did you say your name?

What?　What are you talking about? No one knows what you look like.　Hey! It's Futa!　Champion (・・・・・・) Futa's here!

The owner shouted, pointing at Futa and shouting into the store.

But the store's reaction was horrible.

”Don't talk to me in my sleep, you idiot! ”You think you can fool me? Don't be a drunk and bother the passers-by! I doubt if there's even anyone here in the middle of the day! That's not a line from a guy who drinks in the daytime! That goes for you, too!

You're one of them!” Futa chuckles at the fact that no one believes him.

The owner of the store, after making a fuss about the fact that it is true, looks back at Futa, rubs his hands and tells him.

I'm sorry for the ruckus!　I'm sorry for the ruckus! Thanks to the sword fighting, we've been having a lot of fun too!　Come by if you want!

There's a lot going on. Futa knew exactly what he meant.

It's not just the people who watch the fights that get excited.

He had heard that gambling was also a common practice.

I've even heard that the crooked manager is behind it.

It was a strange feeling to think that the money they spent would end up in the hands of the gambler's girlfriend.

A gambling mogul is not the kind of person that an ordinary citizen can meet. And yet, here we are, in the midst of the daily life of a fake sister, making noise next door.

--But what's more, Futa's fight is going to get in the way.

They're making some adjustments to the original gambling plan. Futa doesn't know the details, but...

No.

Shaking his head loosely, Futa tried to refuse.

Then he continued as if he was clinging to her.

I know you're busy, but come on!　I know you're busy, but I'll give you free food if you want!

I'll give you free food if you want!” ”...... It's strange, isn't it?

Futa lowered his eyebrows in annoyance.

Free of charge, huh?

I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure I'd ever expect to be asked to come back for free.

You never really know what life has in store for you.

”Sorry. I'm kind of busy.

Oh, yeah, ......!　But you should come by sometime!

Yeah, I'll think about it.

This is the first time I've ever been to an event where I've had to make a decision about what to do.

Futa smiled lightly at him and continued on his way.

Towards this further place.

As he walked, he muttered. I'm a little sorry about the shopkeeper.

I don't have any prior commitments.

Futa's feelings were too strong to call it just a walk.

But still, he didn't have any plans with anyone.

It's been exactly one year since then.

So there was a place I wanted to come to as a kind of closure.

That's all I'm saying.

--The alley opens up.

...... looks different.

Futa muttered, raising the corners of his mouth lightly.

He looked around and saw a large area. In the middle sits a decaying fountain object, with paving stones forming a circle around it, holding hands.

There was a man sitting there.

I lowered my eyes and looked up at the sky.

Two birds flew through the sky like brush strokes in a beautiful blue sky.

Well,” I mutter to myself.

There's no one around. There's no sign of anyone.

That was the reason for the strange atmosphere.

Someday, her fighting spirit would keep people away.

A year ago, this area would've been full of vagrants.

Now it's so clean.

This place has been cleaned up, but it's still so deep in the alley that not many people visit it.

The only thing there was a hint of Futa.

I'm sure that means I'm not the only one who's changed.

I looked at my palm.

The corner of his mouth slackened at the old scar running through it, and his focus shifted from his palm to his feet.

A pair of fine shoes and straight pants with not a single wrinkle.

I wondered if I was worthy of such fine clothes for a guest of the royal family.